DEPARTMENT  OF  AGRICULTURE 


LIVE-STOCK  INDUSTRY  OF  THE 
UNITED  STATES 


REPORT  PREPARED  FOR 

THE  COMMISSION  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA 

TO  THE  BRAZIL  CENTENNIAL  EXPOSITION 


For  Distribution  at  the  Brazil  Centennial  Exposition 
1922*1923 


WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT  PRINTING  OFTICB 

1922 


DEPARTMENT  OF  AGRICULTURE 


LIVE-STOCK  INDUSTRY  OF  THE 
UNITED  STATES 


Supplementing  Exhibit 

of  the 

BUREAU  OF  ANIMAL  INDUSTRY 

at  the 

BRAZIL  CENTENNIAL  EXPOSITION 

Rio  de  Janeiro,  Brazil 

1922-1923 


V 


By 

JOHN  R.  MOHLER 

Chief  of  the  Bureau  of  Animal  Industry 


LIVE-STOCK  INDUSTRY  OF  THE  UNITED 

STATES. 


Wide  Diversity  in   Kinds  of   Live  Stock  in  the  United  States. 

Of  the  many  points  of  interest  relating  to  live  stock  in  the  United 
States  one  of  the  most  striking  is  the  great  diversity  of  stock  kept. 
This  is  accounted  for  largely  by  the  diversity  in  types  of  farming  and  in 
climate.  The  large  population,  including  many  nationalities,  is  respon- 
sible also,  no  doubt,  for  the  many  breeds  and  varieties  found  in  the 
United  States.  Such  a  condition  makes  possible  the  satisfying  of  prac- 
tically every  want  or  preference  in  the  line  of  domestic  live  stock. 

There  are  five  well-established  .breeds  of  dairy  cattle  and  as  many 
breeds  of  beef  cattle  in  addition  to  which  several  others  are  raised  for 
both  milk  and  meat.  Both  the  lard  and  bacon  types  of  swine  are  well 
represented. 

The  breeds  of  sheep  raised  are  especially  numerous.  Some  are  kept 
primarily  for  wool,  others  for  meat,  and  still  others  for  both  wool  and 
meat.  Besides,  certain  breeds  of  sheep  excel  under  farm  conditions 
while  others  are  specially  adapted  to  the  large  ranges. 

Horses  of  many  types  are  bred  and  raised.  There  has  been  particular 
interest  in  draft  breeds  during  the  last  few  years. 

The  goat  industry  includes  both  milk  goats  and  those  kept  for  meat 
and  browsing  purposes. 

Varieties  of  poultry  in  the  United  States  are  so  numerous  that  five 
separate  bulletins  containing  altogether  124  pages  are  required  to  discuss 
their  characteristics. 

To  familiarize  interested  persons  in  Brazil  with  the  breeds  and  types 
of  live  stock  in  the  United  States,  the  United  States  Department  of 
Agriculture  has  furnished  the  Brazilian  Centennial  Exposition  with  a 
comprehensive  collection  of  official  bulletins.  These  contain  many 
pictures  of  animals  and  discuss  breed  characteristics.  Persons  desiring 
copies  of  any  of  the  bulletins  for  their  own  use  may  obtain  them  by 
applying  to  the  United  States  Department  of  Agriculture. 

Live-Stock  Improvement  in  the  United  States. 

In  recent  years  special  attention  has  been  given  to  the  improvement 
of  live  stock  in  the  United  States.  Pure-bred  animals  of  the  various 
breeds  have  been  brought  to  a  high  state  of  perfection  and  this  work  is 

11318—22  3 


4  UVE-STOCK    INDUSTRY    OF    THE    UNITED   STATES. 

being  continued  actively.  The  best  breeds  of  the  Old  World  have  been 
introduced,  improved,  and  adapted  to  American  farm  and  range  condi- 
tions, and  some  native  breeds  have  also  been  developed.  Many  pure- 
bred herds  of  the  finest  stock  in  the  world  are  to  be  found  in  the  United 
States. 

Improvement  in  the  breeding  of  general  farm  live  stock  is  being 
brought  about  by  means  of  a  systematic  campaign  for  "Better  sires — 
better  stock."  Farmers  whose  stock  is  not  already  pure-bred  are  urged 
to  use  at  least  pure-bred  sires  so  as  to  improve  gradually  the  qualitv  of 
their  animals.  About  8,000  live-stock  owners  are  participating  in  this 
work  and  have  agreed  to  use  only  pure-bred  sires  for  breeding  purposes. 

Rapid  Progress  in  Disease  Control. 

The  United  States  Department  of  Agriculture  protects  the  live  stock  of 
the  country  from  the  introduction  of  foreign  animal  plagues  and  is 
working  successfully  to  control  and  eradicate  other  diseases  and  pests. 
The  United  States  is  entirely  free  from  foot-and-mouth  disease  (aphthous 
fever),  rinderpest,  and  many  other  infectious  diseases  that  ravage  the 
live-stock  industry  in  other  parts  of  the  world. 

Scabies  of  sheep  and  cattle  and  dourine  of  horses  have  been  almost 
completely  eradicated.  After  16  years  of  systematic  work  the  ticks  that 
cause  fever  (tristeza  or  piroplasmosis)  of  cattle  have  been  exterminated 
in  72  per  cent  of  the  area  that  was  originally  infested,  and  their  complete 
eradication  is  confidently  expected  in  a  few  years.  Hog  cholera  is 
being  brought  more  and  more  under  control  by  means  of  sanitation 
and  the  protective  serum  treatment.  The  eradication  of  bovine  tubercu- 
losis has  been  undertaken  in  recent  years,  and  several  thousand  herds 
of  cattle  are  now  officially  accredited  as  free  from  this  disease.  On  the 
whole,  the  live  stock  of  the  United  States  is  believed  to  be  the  healthiest 
in  the  world. 

Kxtensive  Experiments  Conducted. 

The  United  States  Department  of  Agriculture  has  a  live-stock  and 
dairy  experiment  farm  near  Washington  where  investigations  are  con- 
stantly being  made  for  the  improvement  of  methods  of  breeding,  feeding 
and  managing  live  stock  and  poultry  and  working  out  problems  in  dairy 
farming.  The  department  also  has  several  other  experiment  farms  in 
different  sections  of  the  country,  and  in  addition  each  of  the  48  States 
and  the  Territories  of  Alaska,  Porto  Rico,  and  Hawaii  has  an  agricultural 
experiment  station.  These  numerous  institutions  carry  on  investiga- 
tions and  demonstrations  for  the  development  and  improvement  of  the 
live-stock  industry  and  agriculture  in  general  under  a  great  variety  of 
local  and  climatic  conditions.  At  the  United  States  Morgan  Horse  Farm 
in  the  eastern  State  of  Vermont  the  native  Morgan  breed  of  horses, 
noted  for  its  stamina  and  endurance,  is  bred  for  the  propagation  of 


LIVE-STOCK    INDUSTRY   OF   THE    UNITED    STATES.  5 

the  best  types.  At  another  station  in  the  western  State  of  Wyoming 
horses  suitable  for  western  farm  and  range  conditions  are  bred.  Sheep- 
breeding  operations  at  the  United  States  Sheep  Experiment  Station  in 
Idaho  have  improved  the  standard  breeds  for  the  production  of  mutton 
and  wool  in  the  range  country  and  have  resulted  in  establishing  a  new 
breed,  the  Columbia,  which  combines  high  qualities  in  a  range  sheep. 

Special  attention  is  called  to  the  records  of  high  milk  and  butter-fat 
production  made  by  dairy  cows  as  shown  in  the  exhibit.  Very  successful 
efforts  have  been  made  to  improve  milking  qualities  and  to  increase 
production  by  means  of  what  are  known  as  cow-testing  associations 
and  by  tests  under  which  cows  attaining  certain  standards  of  production 
are  admitted  to  special  registry.  The  purpose  is  to  eliminate  cows  of 
low  production  and  to  utilize  for  breeding  purposes  those  giving  a  high 
yield. 

Magnitude  of  the   Live-Stock   Industry   in  the   United   States. 

Figures  from  the  latest  census  (1920)  give  an  idea  of  the  magnitude 
of  the  live-stock  industry  of  the  United  States.  The  numbers  of  animals 
in  the  country  were  as  follows:  Cattle,  68,764,086;  swine,  61,984,798; 
horses,  21,472,772;  mules,  5,810,641;  sheep,  35483058;  goats,  3*563,659. 
The  State  of  Texas  alone  had  6,362,799  cattle,  while  Iowa  had  7,945,620 
swine.  The  number  of  chickens  raised  in  the  United  States  in  19 19 
was  473,301,959,  and  the  egg  production  was  1,654,044,932  dozens. 

The  Federal  Meat  Inspection. 

The  Government  has  a  system  of  meat  inspection  under  which  all  meat 
and  meat-food  products  slaughtered  and  prepared  at  establishments 
engaged  in  interstate  or  export  trade  are  carefully  inspected  to  insure 
their  wholesomeness.  The  live  animals  are  inspected  before  slaughter 
and  the  carcasses  and  products  are  inspected  at  the  time  of  and  after 
slaughter.  The  inspection  is  performed  by  trained  veterinarians  and 
other  experts.  Good  sanitary  conditions  and  truthful  labeling  are  re- 
quired, and  the  use  of  harmful  chemicals  and  preservatives  is  prohibited. 
No  meat  or  meat-food  product  is  allowed  to  be  exported  unless  it  has 
passed  this  inspection.  The  Federal  inspection  covers  about  64  per  cent 
of  all  meats  slaughtered  in  the  country  and  much  of  the  remainder  comes 
under  local  inspection. 

The  number  of  animals  slaughtered  under  Federal  inspection  during 
192 1  were  as  follows:  Cattle,  7,608,280;  calves,  3,807,568;  sheep,  13,004,- 
905;  goats,  12,133;  swine,  38,982,356. 

Typical  Live-Stock  Farm  in  the  United  States. 

For  the  purpose  of  acquainting  visitors  at  the  Brazilian  Centennial 
Exposition  with  the  extent  and  nature  of  the  United  States  live-stock 


6  LIVE-STOCK   INDUSTRY    OF   THE    UNITED    STATES. 

industry,  the  exhibit  material  consists  principally  of  large  paintings  of 
typical  animals  and  scenes.  One  of  the  paintings,  measuring  10  by  20 
feet,  portrays  a  live-stock  farm  including  buildings,  pastures,  and  wood- 
land in  addition  to  the  animals.  The  stock  shown  includes  beef  and 
dairy  cattle,  horses,  sheep,  and  swine. 

Frieze  Showing  Breeds  of  Swine. 

Another  portion  of  the  exhibit  portrays  swine  of  the  following  breeds : 
Berkshire,  Duroc-Jersey,  Poland  China,  Hampshire,  Chester  White, 
Yorkshire,  Tarn  worth,  and  Spotted  Poland  China.  The  pictures  are 
shown  on  a  frieze,  each  animal  being  colored  to  show  the  typical  appear- 
ance of  its  breed.  A  legend  giving  the  name  of  the  breed  and  sex  of 
animals  shown  accompanies  each  picture. 

Popular  Breeds  of  Sheep. 

A  similar  frieze  shows  typical  sheep  of  the  following  breeds:  Merino, 
Rambouillet,  Shropshire,  Corriedale,  Lincoln,  Cotswold,  and  Hampshire. 

Panel  of  Beef  Cattle. 

Types  of  beef  cattle  raised  on  a  large  scale  in  the  United  States  are 
shown  by  framed  pictures  on  a  panel.  Both  males  and  females  of  each 
of  the  following  breeds  are  illustrated:  Shorthorn,  Hereford,  Aberdeen- 
Angus,  and  Galloway. 

Dairy  Cattle  and  Their  Records. 

A  panel  similar  to  that  for  beef  cattle  presents  the  breeds  of  dairy 
cattle,  namely,  Holstein-Friesian,  Jersey,  Guernsey,  Ayrshire,  and  Brown 
Swiss.  The  legends  give  the  production  records  both  in  milk  and  butter 
fat  of  outstanding  representatives  of  the  breeds. 

Summary  Statement  of  United  States  Live-Stock  Industry. 

A  summary  of  the  live-stock  industry  of  the  United  States  appears  in 
the  form  of  an  open  book  on  a  pedestal  in  front  of  the  principal  painting. 
The  text  of  the  statement  is  as  follows : 

Live-stock  raising  is  one  of  the  great  industries  of  the  United 
States.  It  supplies,  besides  meat,  many  necessities  including 
milk,  wool,  and  leather.  Domestic  animals  are  raised  in  all 
parts  of  the  country,  but  production  is  most  extensive  in 
regions  where  pastures,  corn,  and  forage  crops  are  abundant. 

Farms  vary  greatly  in  size,  but  even  on  the  smaller  ones, 
contnining  100  acres  or  less,  several  kinds  of  domestic  animals 
are  generally  kept.  Cattle,  swine,  and  poultry,  together  with 
horses,  sufficient  to  work  the  farm,  are  a  very  common  com- 
bination.    Dairying    is  most  extensive  near  the  large  cities, 


UVE-STOCK    INDUSTRY    OF   THE    UNITED    STATES.  7 

particularly  in  the  eastern  and  central  portions  of  the  United 
States.  Sheep  and  goat  raising  is  practiced  mostly  in  the  less 
populated  regions  and  where  suitable  pasturage  exists. 

The  last  census  (1920)  shows  that  the  United  States  con- 
tains nearly  200,000,000  domestic  animals,  besides  more  than 
400,000,000  fowls.  Cattle  number  approximately  68,000,000; 
swine,  62,000,000;  sheep  and  goats  together,  39,000,000;  and 
horses  and  mules  together,  27,000,000. 

The  welfare  of  the  live-stock  industry  is  safeguarded  by  a 
strong  sentiment  for  sanitation,  disease  control,  and  necessary 
laws  to  prevent  the  spread  of  animal  disease  and  pests.  Each 
of  the  48  States  has  an  agricultural  college  and  experiment 
station;  and  live-stock  growers  have  organized  many  asso- 
ciations for  their  mutual  benefit.  A  great  deal  is  accomplished 
also  by  hundreds  of  boys'  and  girls'  clubs  throughout  the 
country.  Members  of  these  organizations  devote  themselves 
to  raising  pure-bred  live  stock.  Numerous  fairs,  exhibits, 
and  special  live-stock  shows  give  breeders  the  opportunity  to 
exhibit  their  animals  and  to  become  more  proficient  in  breeding 
and  management. 
In  addition  to  the  statement,  60  uncolored  photographs  of  horses, 

goats,  and  poultry  are  on  display  in  the  book.     The  illustrations  are 

accompanied  by  suitable  explanatory  legends. 

Motion  Pictures. 

The  following  motion  pictures  have  been  selected  by  the  Bureau  of 
Animal  Industry  for  display  at  the  exposition : 

"Out  of  the  Shadows,"  a  human-interest  film  showing  the  eradication 
of  bovine  tuberculosis. 

"Making  the  South  Tick  Free,"  a  popular  film  explaining  methods  of 
combating  cattle  ticks. 

"Best  Breeds  of  Swine,"  a  film  which  shows  types  of  American-bred 
swine  suitable  for  improving  swine  in  South  America. 

"Great  Dairy  Sires  and  Their  Daughters,"  a  film  which  shows  motion 
pictures  of  the  five  leading  dairy  breeds,  including  both  sexes  and  sup- 
plementary pictures  portraying  methods  used  by  the  Department  of 
Agriculture  to  improve  the  dairy  industry. 

The  purpose  of  all  of  the  pictures  is  to  impress  upon  those  who  see 
them  the  excellent  quality  of  United  States  live  stock  and  the  practical 
methods  used  to  improve  it  still  more. 

o 


UNIVERSITY  OF  FLORIDA 

IMI1I  IIIIIM 

3  1262  08925  9898 


